Beloved Leo M. “Buddy” Rodgers, Jr., who brought to Oklahoma City women’s European and couture apparel, along with dozens of legendary fashion designers – including Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Geoffrey Beene, Mary McFadden, Pauline Trigere, and Bill Blass – died on Monday at his home in Dallas, Texas. He was 90.
Born in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1927 to Ernestine and Leo Rodgers, Buddy became part of a family that had been leaders in retail in Fort Smith and St. Louis, Missouri for three generations. Buddy started working in his grandfather’s store when he was just 13 years old, and worked weekends and vacations throughout high school. It was at that same time (1940) that Buddy started flying airplanes as a hobby, even though he was too young to drive a car. He attended Washington University in St. Louis in the School of Retailing, but transferred to the University of Arkansas so he could visit his mother every weekend in Fort Smith when she became ill. After college, Buddy entered the Executive Training Program at retailer Stix Baer & Fuller – St. Louis’s leading fashion department store at the time – where he became a manager. He then went to work as merchandise manager at the venerable Boston Store in Fort Smith, which had been in his family for over 100 years. He left retailing to courageously serve in the US Army’s Counter Intelligence Corp, where he was stationed outside Munich from 1949 to 1952.
After completing his tour of duty in counter-espionage, Buddy returned to the Boston Store. In 1954, Buddy migrated to Oklahoma City to become the Executive Vice President of Kerr’s Department Store. As the oil and gas industry brought riches to post-war Oklahoma, and with it a greater appreciation of fashion and the arts, Buddy began to dream of creating a culture of women’s couture in Oklahoma City and putting the town on the national and international map for high fashion. In 1967, on a Friday the 13th in fact as he liked to joke, Buddy transformed women’s fashion in Oklahoma City forever when he purchased a small upscale women’s wear store located in a downtown hotel, named Balliet’s. Over time, Buddy moved and expanded the main store to 22,000 square feet and opened two additional stores. At its height, Balliet’s relied on over 33 people in alterations and employed buyers in Oklahoma City, New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Milan.
Buddy and Balliet’s became famous in Oklahoma City for funding the arts as well as promoting cultural and civic causes. Buddy served on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma City Symphony, the Red Cross, Temple B’Nai Israel, the Boston Store, and White House Dry Goods Co. in Beaumont, Texas. He also served on the Board and was President of the Sunbeam Home and Family Service Center. Buddy was a major contributor to the Phaythopen Charity Silent Auctions and the Gladney Center, and was very active in the city’s United Fund campaigns. Buddy was on the board of the Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma City as well. But perhaps he will be remembered most for continuously co-sponsoring the annual Oklahoma City Symphony Opera Luncheon and Style Show by bringing world-renowned designers such as Oscar de la Renta to the unique fund raising event.
Buddy earned the reputation for being one of the best retailers, not only in Oklahoma City, but also on a national scale. In 1983, Buddy brought his store and the city into the national spotlight when he was named Retailer of the Year by the National Retail Merchant Association (NMRA), a trade organization representing 40,000 retailers. Indeed, Buddy was one of the most admired retailers of his time – one who always placed customer satisfaction and service over closing the sale, and who achieved his dream of bringing high fashion and the national spotlight to Oklahoma City.
After retiring, Buddy was a retail consultant and spent his winters in the California desert, spending time with family and friends and playing golf at La Quinta Country Club and Marrakesh Country Club in Palm Desert where Buddy’s ready smile and warm personality will be greatly missed. He was also a longtime member of Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club.
Buddy is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Jane Rodgers, their children and spouses, Ellen and Rob Hoffman of Dallas, Texas, Lee and Janet Rodgers of St. Louis, Missouri, and Jim and Michele Rodgers of Dallas, Texas, as well as 8 grandchildren: Dr. Lauren Hoffman and her husband Dr. Kyle Oholendt of Dallas, Texas, Will Hoffman of Austin, Texas, Helen Rodgers, Hanna Rodgers, Mark Rodgers all of St. Louis, Missouri, Megan Rodgers, and Nicole Rodgers both of Dallas, Texas. Being an only child, Buddy became very close with his cousins. He is survived by Randy and Lea Ney, Jerry Ney, and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Hal and Elaine Levy. The family thanks Buddy’s caregiver Evelyn Conner for her loving care.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 16th at 2:00 pm at Temple B’Nai Israel, 4109 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be sent to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104; Temple B’Nai Israel; or to the charity of your choice.
